Reynolds Journalism Institute

Creating innovative mobile products for emerging markets

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The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute's Mobile First symposium on March 31-April 1 has reached full capacity and registrations are no longer being accepted. But the event will be streamed live during both days. Sign up to watch the live stream. If you have questions about attendance, please click here.

Speaker spotlight: Will Sullivan

Of the 7 billion people on Earth, 5 billion people don't have access to the Internet, says Will Sullivan, director of mobile at the Broadcasting Board of Governors and a guest speaker at this month's Mobile First symposium.

Sullivan, a 2010-2011 Reynolds Fellow, recently returned from a business trip to Africa, a continent that is considered "mobile only" because of its lack of Internet infrastructure.

"Most Africans don't have home computers and high-speed, wired Internet in their homes like we do in America," says Sullivan. "Mobile devices are the first places they regularly engage with digital content."

The BBG's work to provide news and information for these markets is important, says Sullivan.

"We're helping bridge the digital divide and provide news and information to audiences in countries that don't have a free or established press," he says. "Getting timely, accurate news is a daily struggle."

Currently BBG – which oversees Voice of America and other civilian international media – has weekly audiences of 203 million people in more than 100 countries. Part of Sullivan's work includes developing new mobile products focused on emerging markets. Sullivan will share some innovative strategies for building mobile products in these nations during the two-day conference that begins March 31.

Sullivan is among eight Reynolds Fellows who will be speaking at Mobile First.

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